Lucky 13, Michu lifts Swansea

MICHU has handed Swansea a major boost by pledging his future to the club.

Michu and his team-mates want to bounce back from Saturday’s home defeat against Norwich at the expe

The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and several Premier League clubs. But Michu, the top scorer in the top flight with 13 goals in all competitions, has given Swansea a timely boost ahead of their Capital One Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough.

“Right now I am playing almost every minute and I am very happy,” he said. “It is always nice that you get talked about with teams such as Atletico Madrid, one of the largest in Spain, but I am very happy in Swansea. By now to have 13 goals is great, but above all I am enjoying what I am doing in Swansea.”

The midfielder has been a revelation since his £2.2million move from Rayo Vallecano last summer. Last week, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup attempted to ward off potential interest by valuing his forward at £30m.

Right now I am playing almost every minute and I am very happy

Swansea star Michu

Michu and his team-mates want to bounce back from Saturday’s home defeat against Norwich at the expense of Middlesbrough.

The 26-year-old enhanced his growing reputation with a second-half brace against the Canaries and has set his sights on a first Wembley appearance.

Michu added: “Why can we not be there at the end? It would be nice to be at Wembley. But you must battle because no one gives you anything.” Swansea, in the middle of their centenary season, have not won a major trophy in that time.

But victory tonight could set up a bumper January, with a potential nine games in 31 days to test the depth of the squad. But Laudrup says it will be worth the risk.

He said: “To play for a trophy is fantastic for the fans and the players. If we win, we will be in a competition of just four teams and to have the opportunity will be special. To have headaches in January will be well worth any risks.”

The Swans are without the banned Ashley Williams while Michel Vorm and Pablo Hernandez are not ready after injuries. But Leon Britton is set to be passed fit following a knee problem, with Garry Monk and Kyle Bartley both ready to start at centre-back.

Boro travel tonight with no fear, having broken an all-time cup record of 12 consecutive away ties in a row.

Tony Mowbray’s side went to neighbours Sunderland in the last round and won. So a trip to south Wales does not fill keeper Jason Steele with any feelings of trepidation.

The Championship promotion chasers will be roared on by nearly 700 supporters as the cup’s sponsors have laid on free travel in recognition of those historic 12 League Cup ties.

“It’s an amazing run,” said England Under-21 international Steele. “We have one of the best away support numbers in the league. They travel up and down the motorways following us everywhere and they have had a few long journeys in this competition already. But a freezing night in Swansea is when you really need your supporters. And hopefully we can give them something to shout about.

“All our matches in this competition have been away for a long time now and that has given us a lot of confidence that we can go anywhere and get a result. We have beaten Sunderland and Preston this season – and that has given us a lot of extra belief.

“The Sunderland game ended 1-0, but we were comfortable even though no one gave us much of a chance. So we have shown we can win away from home against Premier League clubs. This is one of my biggest matches for Boro and, hopefully, we can reward those supporters and get to Wembley.”

Steele will come face to face with his former Boro team-mate Danny Graham, whom he rates highly from their time together at the Riverside.

He said: “I know Danny pretty well and I keep in touch with him. He is a top striker. He went down the leagues a bit when he left Boro for Carlisle, but he has shown he is a great finisher. He has proved himself everywhere he has been.

“He is one of those strikers you don’t want to play against because he seems to find the net every week. We played together in the reserve team and I got on well with him.”‘I’m happy, and having these goals is great’FOOTBALL: capital one cup